Grand Forks, N.D. – North Dakota men's and women's cross country continued upward trajectory to start the 2021 season with both teams claiming victory at the Ron Pynn Classic – the first time since 2006 that both teams won their respective races in this meet.
To make the day even sweeter for UND, the Fighting Hawks had the individual winner in each race which included a magnificent last 100m by freshman
Jadyn Keeler who out kicked Allie Wahlund of NDSU to come from behind to win by a tenth of a second.
Defending Summit League champion
Patrick Kipkemboi breezed to victory in the men's race.
Keeler led a strong overall team performance for the women's squad. The Fighting Hawks put five in the top eight for a team score of 25, five points ahead of second place NDSU. First team all-conference performer from a year ago
Ellyssa Peterson finished third while second teamer from last season
McKenzie Burian finished sixth. In her first race as a collegiate
Eliana Malnourie ran smart and strong moving up throughout the race to finish seventh. Last season's Summit League freshman of the year
Conny Wohlfahrt rounded out the Hawks scorers in eighth position.
The Fighting Hawks went 1-2-3 on the men's side with Kipkemboi, freshman
Justin Jelaca and
Luke Labatte leading to a team score of 20 – a margin of victory of 28 points over second place North Dakota State.
Nick Oak, the men's Summit League freshman of the year last season was sixth and
Alec Nelson crossed the line ninth to complete the scoring for the Fighting Hawks.
North Dakota will return to action next Friday, September 10, at the South Dakota State University Classic. The women will run a 5,000m and the men will compete in the Jay Dirksen 8,000m.
North Dakota women individual finishers, 5K
- Jadyn Keeler, 17:32.6
- Ellyssa Peterson, 17:36
- McKenzie Burian, 17:59
- Eliana Malnourie, 18:15
- Conny Wohlfahrt, 18:18
- Mikayla Weiss, 18:54
- Greta McLagan, 18:55
- Abby McNeil, 19:54
- Michaela Oosthuizen, 20:05
- Aislinn Hunter, 20:36
Women's team scores
- North Dakota 25
- North Dakota State 30
- Concordia (MN) 85
North Dakota men individual finishers, 6K
- Patrick Kipkemboi, 18:07
- Justin Jelaca, 18:13
- Luke Labatte, 18:196
- Nick Oak, 18:32
- Alec Nelson, 18:46
- Zach Long, 18:49
- Ben Scheller, 18:56
- Zak King, 19:18
- Geno Urbohm, 19:36
Men's team scores
- North Dakota 20
- North Dakota State 48
- Concordia (MN) 69
